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Exciting news! Etsy Dallas has partnered up with Taste of Dallas to create the Etsy Dallas Artisan Market. This will be the 30th year that Taste of Dallas has showcased the best of what the Big D has to offer in art, music, and food (and now the local handmade scene).

The Etsy Dallas Artisan Market will include exclusively handmade vendors with all the quality goods from emerging artists and designers you have come to expect from Etsy Dallas including jewelry, accessories, art, body care, clothing, home goods, kids, pets, and stationary. In the coming months, you will be hearing a lot more about this exciting event, but for now-artists go apply here!

Yep, it's time again for our favorite show, the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash! Mark your calendars for Saturday November 21st from 11am-6pm.

This year there will be over 100 artists, mostly local and 100% handmade. The first 50 shoppers will score a coveted Bash Bag with all kinds of goodies from our vendors (last years was pretty awesome). There will also be bars on site so you can sip and shop, and a restaurant so you can fuel up for a second go 'round to make sure you didn't miss any must have gifts.

On average, a customer ask the price of items only twice before they feel uncomfortable asking again. Put them at ease by creating signage or putting price tags on all of your items. Make sure signage is easy for them to spot and big enough to be read from a distance. Also, be sure you have business cards handy and in a place that is easy for shoppers to find.

You may think that not having prices opens the door to conversations with your shoppers, but what if you are too busy to speak to everyone (and we hope that you always are)!

Your shop name at the top and something calling out that it is your price list

A list of each type of item (or item category) and it's price

Any special show pricing or bundled pricing you may offer

Show shoppers whether you take credit cards and which ones (you can just put the logos on it)

If all of your items are OOAK and priced differently, consider putting price tags on all items in an easy to find spot. Keep in mind if your item has movable parts or is delicate, putting tags on the bottom may not be wise. You are better off putting them somewhere that may not be as attractive but can cut down on unnecessary handling and breakage.

Another tactic is to price sections of product. For instance all items on one table are $20, you can put up one sign that states that for each table. You may also want to add signage to differentiate your product, even if it is all the same price. Do you sell dog collars for $15 in all sizes? Maybe your signage needs to point out sizes to help shoppers locate the item they need.

Consider putting up an additional sign or two where appropriate to tell shoppers pertinent info about your product and what sets it apart. Is your yarn hand spun by you, or is the wool sourced from local farms? Does your jewelry re-purpose vintage pieces? Do you take custom orders? Is it eco-friendly? Tell people about it!

Need some inspiration? Check out our craft show display board on Pinterest for more!

A few weeks ago we were asked by Etsy Dallas to guest write an article on how to set up for a craft show. My question back was "the day of? or all the actual work that goes into it?" Both! They said.

The resulting brainstorming session of me and my sister resulted in a two part series covering everything from the weeks leading up to the day of the event. We covered topics ranging from inventory forecasting to what's in our disaster kit.

There were several things I would have loved to delve into deeper, but I'm pretty sure they weren't going to change it to a 10 part series for me! :)
So over the next few days and weeks I will hit each subject in more detail so you can learn a little more of the behind the scenes buildup to a craft show.

We have some wonderfully talented jewelry designers at this years Bash, it'll be hard to choose what to take home (at least for me). Here is a sneak peek-I love how all of these pieces have a very nice natural/earthy inspired feel to them-perfect timing for Earth Day.

Need to spruce up your space? Look no further than the bash where you will find some awesome wares to freshen up your decor!

Our Green Nest mixes vintage and modern items with a splash of color. This painted antler is the perfect conversation piece for an end table or mantle.

The Letter Lounge gives new life to old books cutting them not only into letters but a variety of shapes and symbols. This particular book is mine, which I picked up at WRLM last year. I plan to add a science book to my collection this year :)

Blue Flame Studios makes a variety of teapots, mugs and serving pieces which are beautifully glazed to perfection. In addition to this dynamic statement serving bowl I love their black on black (matte/gloss) teapot.

Where did the time go? The Bash is almost here and true to our PnP selves, we are crazy rushing to make as much product as possible for the event. Check out the Handmade Bash site for all the details including the awesome artists list. We have some awesomely talented people at the show this year (just like every year) and you won't want to miss it! In the days leading up to the Bash I'll start showing them off here, starting today with our artists whose focus is on the wee ones :)

Let's get ready to SHOP + PARTY + ART + CRAFT: * The best shopping experience featuring handmade art & craft from Dallas and beyond * Free DIY crafts to make and take * Bars and restaurants on-site * Party tunes * Photo Booth benefiting a local charity * Free admission, wheelchair/stroller accessible, plenty of free and secure parking * Free collectible Bash Bags™ for the first 50 adult shoppers in line at 11 am, chock full of handmade goods from artists and sponsors:A crowd favorite, the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash will offer up the popular and highly coveted Bash Bags™ for the first 50 adult shoppers in line when we open to the public at 11 a.m. These reusable tote bags – chock full of handmade products – have become a thing of legend, and shoppers have been known to arrive three hours early to stand in line for one!

Applications for the 2014 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash are open! Visit the Handmade Bash website to learn more and apply! Don't forget to mark your calendars for April 26th and we'll see you at the Shops at Park Lane!